Machine for manufacturing sheet-metal hinges.



Patented Nov. 7, I899.

a. E. SMART. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL HINGES.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1899.)

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(No Model.)

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No. 636,574. Patented Nov. 7,1399.

a.- E.ASMAHT.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SHEET METAL HINGES.

(Application filed Mar. 29, 1899.: (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

GEORGE E. SMART, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANLEY WORKS, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING SHEET-METAL HINGE S.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,574, dated November 7, 1899.

I Application filed March 29, 1899. Serial No. 710,882, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. SMART, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city and county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Manufacturing Sheet-Metal Hinges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for manw facturing sheet-metal hinges, but has reference more particularly to improvements upon the United States Patent No. 611,714, granted to C. F. Smith and G. Mortson, dated Octoher 4, 1898.

The general object of my invention is to improve upon certain features of the machine above referred to; and it consists, first, in providing a series of antifriction guide-rolls for the strip of metal, thereby rendering the feed more reliable and throwing considerably less strain on the actuating mechanism and thereby prolonging the-life of the machine; second, in providing means for rigidly supporting the partly-formed hinge-strip during the broachi-ng operation, and, third, in providing means to flatten and straighten the completed hinge and at the same operation to countersink the sorew-holes in the hinge-leaves,whereby the hinge is screwed to the door and jamb, adapting the same for use.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a plan View of the improvements in their preferred construction. Fig. 2 represents a sectional end elevation taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l'in the direction of the arrows and showing the arrangement of the friction-rollers. Fig. 3 represents a sectional end view through the supporting-dies when the broaching operation is performed upon the partly-formed metal strip and taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of that which is represented in Fig. 3, also showing the metal strip in position. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are respectively front, plan, (looking from beneath to the top,) and end views of thesetting or flattening die that carriesthe countersinking-punches for making the countersink in the hinge-leaves adapted to receive the screw-heads. igs. 8 and 9 are respectively front and side views, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the detached setting or flattening dies.

The machine above referred to is built very heavy and designed to meet all the requirements that are expected of this class of mathe claims hereunto appended.

In the organization of parts shown in the drawings the base 1, the die-blocks 133, with their stripping-plates 136, the die-blocks 156 and 156, the cutting-off die and the block 176, the supporting-block 214, the assembling-finger 177, and the gripping-finger 256 are in their construction and arrangement identical with the machine shown in the Smith-Mortson patent, No. 611,714, andIhave therefore designated those parts with like figures.

My improvements in their preferred construction will now be described. The dieblocks 133, with their stripping-plates 136, having the free space 6 between them, are substantially identical in their construction with the die-blocks and stripping-plates as shown in the drawings of the patent above referred to, but are provided with rollers a, mounted on studs 1) in such a manner that the lower part or hubs of said rollers are fitted into countersunk recesses c of the dieblocks. It has been found that after taking all possible care in constructing the machine properly the stock used for manufacturing hinges is apt to vary in width and also that the operation of the various tools upon the metal strip tends to separate and spread the strip apart. The distortion, as well as the difference in the width of metal strip, throws an enormous strain on the guides for the strip and on the feed-slidesuch as would be employed herein, for example, as represented in the drawings of the patent above referred 'towhen the met-a1 strip is moved ahead. In

practice it is of the utmost importance to reduce this undue strain on the guides, and I have therefore shown the antifriction-rollers a countersunk into the die-block 133, giving them ample bearing downwardly, as the space above the stripper-plate 136 is all taken up when the plunger and the tools carried thereby descend.

As a means for supporting the hinge-knuckles during the broachin g operation described in the Smith-Mortson patent I have provided the supporting-blocks 156 with die-blocks f and 9, adapted to receive the partially-formed knuckles of the metal strip B, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4. The die-blocksf and g are grooved on their'lower sides, as at h, serving as a stripping-plate, and are provided with horns i and k and recesses I m. The die-block f is in its preferred construction provided with three horns i and two recesses Z,whereas the die-block g has two horns 7t and three recesses m, the horns of the one therefore corresponding in number with the recesses of the other and being directly opposite. The horns of the die-blocks have their ends rounded to conform to the partially-formed knuckles of the hinge-leaves.

The gate 175 is carried bythe main reciprocating plunger of the machine, and said gate carries the double-ended cutting-off tool 175. In the gate are also mounted the setting-tools 178, 179, and 180, provided with a recess 1S1, fitting the treble-knuckled leaf,- and whereby the three knuckles are pinched upon the pintle as the upper press-gate descends. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the construction is substantially identical with the patent above referred to; but each of the setting-tools 178,179, and 180 are provided with the two symmetrically-disposed screw-hole-countersinking punches n and 0, fitting looselyin their respective sockets, of larger size than the punches of the settingtools,butheld in position by the set-- screws engaging in grooves of the punches. The sockets in the setting-dies are made larger than the punches for the reason that should a slight difference occur in the feeding of the metal strip the holes previously punched will not come in line with the punches at and 0, but will-yield and centralize themselves, as the set-screws p are not expected to be tight with the punches, merely acting to retain them in their sockets when the setting-tools move upwardly. The lower projecting ends of the punches are tapered corresponding to the heads of the wood-screws, whereby the hinge-leaves are fastened to the doors and jambs, adapting them for use. The ends of the setting-tools 178, 179, and 180 are provided with ledges 'r and 8, being beveled on their inner sides, which fit the hinge-leaves. Thus when the setting-tools 178, 179, and 180 descend the beveled edges 1' and s centralize the hinge, the punches n and 0 are forced into the leaves, and the straight surfaces 25 flatten the now-completed hinge on the supportingblock 214.

The operation of the machine is apparent from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the Smith-Mortson patent, No. 611,714.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of die-blocks having a free space between them, of cutting-dies and strippingplates mounted on said die-blocks, and of a plurality of rollers on each side of said free space forming two series of oppositely-disposed guiding-rollers, the same being located to the rear of the inner edges of said stripping-plates and having hubs which project into the die-blocks,substantially as described.

2. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of the oppositely-disposed dieblocks 133, having a free space between them, the cutting-dies 134, and the stripping-plates 136, mounted on the die-blocks,the oppositelydisposed rollers a, resting upon the die-blocks and provided with integral hubs mounted within the die-blocks, said rollers projecting through the stripping-plates.

3. In a machine of the class specified, the combination of the supporting-blocks 156, of the undercut die-blocksfand g, mounted on the supporting-blocks, the die-blocks being provided with grooves to receive the metal strip, and with horns and recesses in substantially such positions, that the recesses of the one are oppositely disposed the horns of the other, the horns having their inner faces rounded, stripping-plates 136 having undercut inner edges and an tifriction-rollers to the rear of said inner edges and projecting into said stripping-plates, said rollers bearing in the blocks supporting said stripping-plates.

4. In a hinge-machine, the combination of the supporting-block 214, the gate 175, setting-tools 178, 179, and 180, oppositely-disposed countersink-punches n and 0, mounted in the setting-tools, and means whereby the punches may yield laterally but not vertically, and means to prevent accidental dislodgment of said punches.

5. In a hinge-machine, the combination of the supporting-block 214, the gate 175, setting-tools 178, 179, and 180, oppositely-disposed countersink-punches n and 0, mounted in sockets of the setting-tools, the sockets of larger diameter than the diameter of the punches to admit of lateral play, and means for retaining the punches in their sockets.

6. In a hinge machine, the combination of the supporting-block 214, the gate 175, setting-tools 173, 179, and 130, and having a free space between them, the recesses 181 in said tools, and the oppositely-disposed punches n and o, mounted in the setting-tools, the punches having the outer ends beveled to correspond with the bevel of wood-screws and means whereby the punches may yield laterally but not longitudinally during the opera: tion thereof.

Signed by me at Hartford, Connecticut, this 25th day of January, 1899.

. GEORGE E. SMART.

Witnesses:

AUSTIN BRAINARD, ED. E. CLAUSSEN. 

